Jeudi Journal - Entertained

Wendy and I decided to challenge one another to something to keep us stamping weekly resulting in journal page.  A story evolved but it is not part of the original ruling/plan, therefore not necessary.

The Current Quote: "No one will ever be entertained by us, as us"

Rules: Link to Art Journal Journey's theme (currently Mia's "Make your own background") plus Dyan Reaveley quote and her Dylusion figures.

I used Liquitex Acrylic Paints in 'light blue permanent' and 'bright aqua green' as my base, mixing the two together and left it to dry overnight.  Next day I decided to do a technique but then didn't think it would work on a painted background but I went ahead and gave it a try.  I haven't used my Perfect Pearls or my Pearlex for a long time and have a drawer full of different makes. Will it work on an acrylic painted background?  In for as penny.  It did - but only faintly, still I think a black background is best for this technique.  I used an Art from the Heart stamp and a Dina Wakley one, afterall she is best friends with Dyan.  Sketched Layered Fronds - and it will get used again, I love them.  They were coloured with Pearlex Duo Green Yellow and Pearlex True Blue, the Dylusion border was coloured with Peearl Ex Perfect Gold.

"Esmé. Ella, Ernie and Edward had spent a cosy afternoon, as usual on the first Saturday of the month, in "Cora's Cosy Cafe".  It was usual for the group to meet up for about an hour, or two if it wasn't too busy, and Cora was a friend of Edwards anyway so tended not to bother the group having this meet up.  Edward was a comedian and the three girls were storytellers, all passionate about making each other laugh and think.  (In case you are wondering Ernestine hated her name and so she was known as Ernie)

This afternoon they found themselves in a lively debate about the funniest moments in their lives again.  Each of the friends shared a hilarious anecdote and the conversation got funnier and funnier. 

As the laughter reached its peak, Esmé said "You know no one will ever be entertained by us, as us"  They all agreed, realising that their unique brand of humour was truly one of a kind.

An elderly gent sat nearby reached out and touched Esmé on the arm "I don't know about that love", he said, "I come in here every Saturday and try to get a table close to you for me and the wife.  It's good proper entertainment listening to you about your stories, and that young man should be on the stage."

"Yes," his wife chipped in "we wish you were here every Saturday, we love listening to you."

Edward thanked them on behalf of the other three and he and Ella got up and took their leave both having appointments to attend.  Esmé and Ernie stayed a few more minutes making plans for the evening and made their way to the door smiling at the elderly couple as they passed them.

Once outside Ernie said "well, that's been a bit different to the usual monthly meet up."

Esmé agreed and both girls went on their way with a lighter step than they had gone in with."

You can just about see the decoration behind the two figures.  Guess it needed a darker background to show up the PearlEx.  Maybe I should have left it to a border of some kind done on black card.  Or know more about darkening the colour on my scanning as it shows up on the actual journal.

WOYWW 849

 Lovely weather again - nice warm days although the forecast is showing it to rain and I cannot grumble as we need the rain.

Not been up to much, trying to catch up on journaling so cannot show it to you as it goes out the day following this and involves my literary experiences as well (NIL!) but it is fun for me to do with my friend Wendy.  We got some new figures from the Dylusion range too so that has made a difference as that is one of the restrictions we have - to use only Dylusion figures if at all possible.  Over the years we have pretty much kept to it unless we want a male head and then we have occasionally used one from a magazine.  Only occasionally!

Yesterday I was rummaging through my topper box so that is what is on my counter at the moment.  Was hoping I could find something to fit in with a theme for a swap I am entering but didn't get very far.

Today I am hoping to have a go at the cloud technique that our very own Angela (Felix) has shown us and I thought it would make a good technique for a background for my next journal page - the part of the challenge by Art Journal Journey that we have to do is to make our own background.

Nothing new to show you but there should be some new stamps coming up shortly.  Watch this page.

Jeudi Journal - Catch Me

 Today the Dylusion Quote we are using is "My Only Advice for Dating Me is Catch Me While I Care" and the challenge at Art Journal Journey has been set by the lovely Mia for the month of September and is "Make Your Own Background" which is something Wendy and I do more or less the whole time with, usually, Paint or Distress Inks before we stick our Dylusion figures down on top.

This background was done with Distress Oxides, smooshed on across the whole page and then some through a stencil down the sides.  I wanted to use autumnal colours because it is my favourite season but then I realised I had been using similar colours throughout last month because Chris' theme was "hot".  I liked my background so much that I stuck with it and added two figures on top to tell my story both dressed in cooler colours.

"Bettina was a pretty little girl, fairly new to the village and so a big hit with the boys.  She was bright and quite modern with her hair a pretty pastel blue colour and she wore it in two ringlets down either side of her face.  Her big eyes attracted many a boy to her.  She was not as innocent as she looked and could look after herself quite easily.

She had made friends with Maggie, another attractive girl from school  and the two found themselves meeting up many a weekend to go for a walk or a coffee and making plans for the evening.

It was a lovely Saturday in September and the two of them had been into town buying themselves some nice pieces of jewellery in readiness for a party that one of the girls from school was having.  Bett was talking about Kevin, a fairly good looking boy in the class above them.  Someone had told her he was quite smitten by her and it looked as if he was going to ask her out  whilst they were at the party that evening. 

"So what are you going to do?" asked Maggie, "Go out with him or what?"

"Actually I think I am a bit young to be making such decisions" was Bett's reply.  "I might tell him that my only advice for dating me is catch me while I care."

"So does that mean you don't care?" 

"No.I quite like him but he is a year older than me so I think I should wait a bit, I am only 16 and I think I should keep him on his toes for a while."

"But a lot can happen in a year" said Maggie.

"So" replied Bett, "if it was not meant to be then so be it, if it was, we'll be seeing one another in a year's time."

Maggie shook her head, "Sometimes I wonder where you get that old head of yours from."

WOYWW 848

I've decided I can feel a chill in the air now we have turned the month.  September can be a month where you get lovely sunny days and cool nights or just cool days altogether. Take this morning when I went to the District Nurse - my appointment was 09.40 and I set off in summer trousers and a t shirt with a nice thick cardigan over the top.  When I came out of the clinic the sun was shining and I had to unzip my cardigan, I was much too warm.  By the time I reached home the sun had gone in and, it felt quite chilly.  

This afternoon we popped the heating on for an hour as it had gone cold enough to warrant it.  Has anyone else had to pop there's on?

Nothing much to show you again this week.  I made two cards, one was a birthday card for a dear friend and the other an anniversary card for a special couple.  As usual I forgot to take a photo of the birthday card but I did take one of the anniversary card.

It was actually mounted on the base white card much better than it shows here.  The problem was it was a bit skewy on the photo and so it shows with a white border that is all over the place.  It was a anew Honey Doo  image, stamped in black and then with the flowers restamped on blue paper and Inktense pencil put on it.  The flowers were then stuck over the base ones and yellow gems put in the centres.  I used a blue Gel pen to colour the dots on the card and the words were computer generated.

Well, that's it for now so apart from showing you what is on my desk (this week it is a tray as I have been sitting with my legs up as much as possible and got lots of cutting out done for my journal pages) I'd better pop over to Sarah's Craft Shed and see what others have linked in with.  Hopefully see you next week.

Jeudi Journal - Sense

 "Making sense is just not your things is it" is todays quote to work with alongside Chris' challenge at Art Journal Journey which is Hot Summer (Days and Nights) for Wendy and myself who decided to merge our own challenge (just between the two of us) and the monthly challenge over at Art Journal Journey.  Our own part of the challenge is that we must use Dylusion figures which can be a problem at times.

Today I am using a page in my Dylusion Journal which had some yellow and orange ink splodged about it so I went over the whole lot with Ripe Persimmon Distress Oxide to try to bring the page into a nice orange like my page a couple of weeks ago.  This didn't work and you still see the kind of mess in the middle but it does look better than it was.

I've been trying to sit with my feet up as much as possible as instructed by the nurse to get my oedema down and to help my ankle heal so it is a rushed page and story.  But I have been cutting lots of figures out that I had already stamped ready.

"Sally was in her favourite position, lounging on the living room floor, when Anna called to see her.  Anna had recently bought a little puppy and she couldn't take it out for the moment - until it had had its next inoculations.  She had popped to see Sally, who had three dogs of her own, and ask her some questions about raising her new baby,  little Bobby,   He was gorgeous, just a ball of fluff and so funny and a wee bit mischievous.  

Sally loved being consulted about looking after and training dogs and so she went off full mode into giving Anna all the knowledge she could.  The only problem was that Sally could get carried away when speaking about something she really knew about and so her advice became a bit too much for Anna.

"I don't understand you, I have no idea what you are talking about half the time" she said, shaking her head.  "Making sense is just not your thing is it?"

"What do you mean? asked Sally.  "You came asking for my advice and I gave it to you and now you say that about me."

"Sorry I did not mean to insult you, please don't get angry.  I just mean you know so much about dogs and how to look after them, train them etc but you use words that I don't understand.  Remember you have had dogs for a good few years and are used to this language but I am new to the game. I know it should come naturally to me but I want to do it properly and give Bobby the best home possible."

"And so you will, well, as good as my three have. I will help you all I can but let's do it in stages rather than all at once.  If we start again and you tell me what it is you want help with right now I will do my best to help."

WOYWW 847

 Oh Gosh, another nice week but oh how we are suffering with the reservoirs running dry and the moorland fires in north Yorkshire.  I think they said on television that the fires had been raging for three days and the people in the neighbouring areas had been warned to stay in because of the smoke.  We moan when we have rainy summers but now we are suffering  for the hot summer we have had this year.

I just thought about the wild life running away, not knowing which way to turn from the wildfires.  The plants which will take a while to grow again and the poor firefighters and others risking their lives to put. these fires out. On a brighter note here is my desk.  Nothing craftwise has been done, sorry, but I did buy a calendar to start doing for next year and three stamps which I hadn't bought when I got some other things.  Oh and Angela, this is my cloud stencil.  You can see it is tiny so you can decide whether you want one or not. And you can see a card which I received last week from a friend who felt I needed a little pick up.  Get it?  A little pick up?  Love it, it's a great idea.

The ankle is much the same and the oedema definitely no better but hey ho, am sure they will get to it shortly. That's the reason there isn't any crafting being done as I have to sit with my feet up most of the time and I do as I want them to go down.  I am having an ultrasound on Friday - a bit muddled in my head with it as it is from Cora Health in Nottingham and one letter offered me a choice of four clinics down there.  Luckily that came after I had chosen my own doctor's surgery here for it to take place.

Jeudi Journal - Break

 "Phoebe had been going through a rough time at home, her husband had been worried about his job as there had been several redundancies in his department and they owed quite a lot of money here and there.  In short they had been living beyond their means.

His mood had changed and he had started sitting in the sun lounge rather than anywhere she was.  Each time she suggested they went away on holiday to somewhere romantic and the children went off to summer school he walked away and out of the house.  She didn't know what to do.  She bought him a new state of the art camera but he had thrown it in a corner of the bedroom and refused to pick it up.

It was Phoebe's fault, she had wanted to keep up with the Jones's as the saying goes.  She wanted the fancy house on the fancy close where all houses were designed by a different architect and to the owners taste and although they could not afford it Andrew, her husband, had given into her because he loved her so much.  She had wanted an electric car as soon as they became available, her kitchen was the envy of most of her friends and the twins went to the most expensive school in the vicinity.  The only thing she did not get her way on was a private yacht.

As Andrew said, what was the point in having one when neither of them particularly liked sailing.

It was a hot day in summer when Phoebe began to lose it.  She was out with her friend Sybil, the sun was shining and all she had to protect her was a head full of golden curls.  As Sybil said, she should have worn a hat in that heat.  Sybil had made sure her arms were well covered from the sun and she had worn a white straw hat herself.

All of a sudden Phoebe began behaving erratically and muttering about butterflies and numbers buzzing around her.  She began flapping her arms about and the shouting was growing louder and louder. 

"What on earth is the matter?" asked  Sybil.

"It's nearly time for my psychotic break" muttered Phoebe.

"What on earth are you talking about. What's a psychotic break?"

"I just keep having hallucinations, seeing and hearing things that are not there.  It's ok I am seeing a private doctor and talking these things through with him.  It's all Andrew's fault, he is obviously holding back on something.  It's helping now, just talking to you."

"Would it help it we went home, or called in a little cafe for a drink of tea.?" queried Sybil.

"I think I had better go home and ring Dr Smith and talk it over with him.  if only these butterflies would disappear."

And so the two young women started heading for home.  Sybil wondering if her husband, Peter, could shed some light on the situation.  After all he was friends with Andrew and she guessed they talked as openly to one another as women do."

I was lucky in finding this background already done, so with the addition of a couple of Aall & Create stencils (sun, letters and butterflies) I had it completed to work with the story and also provide a hot summer's  day for Chris' challenge at AJJ.

WOYWW 846

 Thank goodness it is a bit cooler around here and we are able to sleep better at night time than we could before.  Hope it is cooler where you are too.  

Forgot to show you the photo of DH blowing his candle out on his Victoria Sandwich cake which I had made for him last week.  Then we went out for a meal afterwards to a pub up the road which held special memories for me although the landlady had long been gone. Nevertheless the food was delicious and he had a lamb shank whilst I had their famous three cheese and onion pie.

I had to have a doggy bag and ate it up next day

Back to this week - I actually got two swaps done yesterday with one of the stamps I bought at the show in Leigh a week last Sunday.  It was my Andy Skinner stamp, "New Friends" featuring three of his bots sitting on a wall.  Here is my desk so you can see the stamp

Back left is my new folder, I had seen one used by a friend and just had to have it.  It is on top of my Inktense pencils and next to that are some painting brushes plus the red rubber stamp upside down, then my inkpad, baby wipes, glue, bits of paper.  Bottom left my new papers which I adore, the colourful one looks like peeled paint on wood, then the stamp index and my ruler.  Oh I missed out my pencil with a little man on top.

I don't think Ann will come on my blog so I will show you my two swaps.  The red one is for Val and the blue one for Ann (Everton supporter, sorry Helen).

Had an awful time lining the images up despite using Perfect Rulers - maybe the cards I bought are wonky?  Spent far too long messing about with them.

Well, that is far too long making cards now I must get on with my blog post for tomorrow.  Hopefully see you next week after I've been to Sarah's Craft Shed today.

Jeudi Journal - People

 "The older you get the more you realise why you can't stand people" is the Dyan quote for this week and

 "it is a boiling hot day again in the north of England where we find Lottie and her favourite oldish aunt, Esther. 

Both were inside escaping most of the heat the best way they could by having the curtains closed  and eating ice cream.  Esther had said they would be cooler if they didn't have the TV on as televisions caused a heat of their own and so the two of them decided to play scrabble for a while.  Even that did not help with the heat and so Lottie suggested that they go for a walk down by the beach.  Surely the temperature would not be as high as it was elsewhere with the gentle breeze off the ocean.

So the two of them set off for a gentle walk down by the water's edge but it soon became obvious that everyone else had the same thought and aunt Esther was not at all happy.  You see, despite wearing her straw hat, the sun had given her a headache and she did not want to disappoint Lottie by letting her know that she didn't really want to go out, lying down on the bed would have been her idea of heaven that day.

There were lots of young people playing music, little ones becoming fractious with the heat and crying because they could not have yet another ice cream, mums and dads getting all het up because of the little ones and it all became a bit too much for aunt Esther.

"|I think I am going to have to go home" she eventually said to Lottie, "You see, the older you get the more you realise why you cannot stand people."

"Oh auntie" said Lottie, "I had no idea you felt like that.  I always thought you enjoyed being part of a crowd."

"Yes, most days my dear, but not today.  I think the heat has got to me and I feel quite sickly and certainly not my usual self.  Do you mind if we go home?"

"Of course not" said Lottie, and the two of them turned around and started heading back to aunties house where she could rest on the bed.  "Would you like me to stay with you a while or should I leave you and go home?"

"Oh sweetie, this is not at all like me and I think I would like you to stay a while but only if you do not have something else to do.  Perhaps give your mum a ring and see if she will pick you up on her way home from work."

And so the day ended on a rather sad note with auntie not feeling well and Lottie having to stay and wait for her mum when she would have loved to join her friends down by the water."

As  you can see I have used my big journal for this one so I could use a figure that suggests an older person who is rather tall.  The young girl used to be my favourite of the heads from Dyan until I got the stamps I used last week.  To begin with I used Rusty Hinge Distress Oxide through a Dylusion stencil  here and there on the page with the border on the same stencil around the edges.  Figures are coloured using Promarkers simply because I find them easier to use on something like this than any other media.

So that is my journal page for Chris's challenge at Art Journal Journey which is Hot Summer (Days and Nights) hence the hot colour for the background.  Funnily enough although I chose Rusty Hinge which suggests a brownish colour it it a lovely shade for a hot day which seems to be 'the norm' for most of us as where we live at the moment.

WOYWW 845

 It's WOYWW day, another WOYWW day and another hot day.  Hope you are surviving in this heat.  To join in with WOYWW pop along to Sarah's Craft Shed and follow the links to other blogs.  So what have you been up to in the past week?

Apart from some more work on my journal challenge with my friend Ann I cannot say I have done much during the week, apart from a Never Ending Card for my Niece's son.  If you have ever done one you will know they can be difficult when it comes to putting pictures on, some end up as half pictures, some upside down, as you turn it.  So it took some doing with pictures from the internet as I didn't have enough suitable football pictures.  The photos show the different turns:

This last one shows how it stands up

The weekend saw us off to Leigh Show.  It was a glorious warm Sunday when we arrived at Leigh Sports Village and as my dh got out of the car his chin almost hit the ground.  He had left my rollator at home.  Now honesty, I cannot walk without it at the moment (got a bad case of oedema in my legs plus this ulcer on my ankle).  So he offered to go home to get the rollator but for the length of time I would be there it wasn't worth it, plus I could sit with the organisers and maybe be useful to them.  (They are good friends)

We had arranged to meet up with some friends once there and they walked in straight behind us.  Everyone agreed it was a shame i could not go around the show so Graham (the organiser) went to see if the Sports Centre had any wheelchairs.  No!  But our friend, John, ever the resourceful. took himself off to Morrisons across the road and asked if he could borrow one of theirs and they agreed. 

So I spent the morning being wheeled about:

From the left at the back we have (the Knight in Shining Armour) John, my dh and my friend Ann

Not to be outdone Graham, the show organiser, who was busy taking the photo, did a selfie for me which reminded me of one of the CHA trips we had done with them years ago when he did a selfie to make me laugh when I was watching Tim Holtz.  (incidentally Graham's last name is Holt and his son Tim [Tim Holt] was at the show on Sunday along with his wife Tracey).

I didn't buy much, what I wanted from Lavinia they had sold out of but I did buy some Honey Doo stamps and I found an Andy Skinner Bot stamp which  I love.  Wish I had bought more, I love Andy's work.  Show you some images next week.

All too soon it was lunch time and we had to dash off to a cheese and wine party we had had arranged for ages with some friends,  It was up at the edge of the Lakes which was ironic as our friends John and Ann had come down from there and we had to leave them for us to travel up.  Traffic was a nightmare on the motorway and so we arrived with ten minutes to spare for me to get changed into a dress and some bling.  We had a lovely time, sorry no photos and Monday was spent travelling back down to home.

Yesterday was District Nurse time for a Doppler test and to have my ankle re-dressed.  Don't think the nurse is happy about it.  

So here is my desk in full glory doing some more pages in my challenge book which I started before I went down to the clinic.

So that's it for this week, it's Jackson's birthday today so "Happy Birthday to you Jackson" and to the rest of you "have a lovely week and a fabulous weekend, especially if you are working."

Jeudi Journal - Crazy

The quote from Wendy is "You can exercise all you want.  You're never going to burn that crazy off" for this week and the new theme at Art Journal Journey which is set by the lovely Chris from Pearshaped Crafting - "Hot Summer (Days & Nights)".  Chris and I have known one another for quite some time although we haven't seen much of one another since we had lunch together a year or more ago after a visit to Lavinia in Ruthin.  We don't live too far away from one another and we share several mutual friends.

To begin my journal page I covered it with Distress Oxide Crackling Campfire.  I was hoping to use my new figures from Dyan at Art from the Heart but they are too wintry in what they wear so I had to revert to some of my old figures because of the "hot" theme.  Not to worry, the dresses will be useful later but I did manage to make use of the heads which I was pleased about.  I think they are so cute!  I am hoping Wendy will buy Dinky Dolls 3 (I bought DD 4) and then we can share images with one another increasing our library.

"Petra had called to see her friend Lottie who was lounging on the floor.

"What are you doing down there, you look chilled or whacked out, can't make my mind up which?" said Petra as she walked in the lounge having been told by Lottie's mum that she was in there 'doing her thing'.

"Oh, you wouldn't believe how much I ache," replied. Lottie, "I did an hour at the gym this morning and I haven't lost an inch.  I need to lose some weight by weekend so I will have to go each morning.  Sorry, won't be available for anything else this week."

"What on earth has got into you, there is nothing wrong with the way that you look."

"I've told her that over and over" came a voice from the kitchen, it was Lottie's mum who had already given her daughter a pep talk about too much exercise and diets etc.  "See if you can talk some sense into her will you love.  She might listen to you.  Want a cuppa?"

"Yes please Mrs Smith" called Petra.  "Can I be cheeky and ask if you have any of that lemon drizzle you made left over?"

"I have, and that's not cheeky, you know I've known you since you were in a pram.  Your mum and I used to go to the park with you two all the time.  You're like a second daughter to me.  There's apiece here in the kitchen for you, just come and get it."

"Thanks Mrs Smith" said Petra as she picked up her cake and cuppa.

"Hmph" came a sound from the floor.  "I sometimes think mum wishes you were me."

"That's nonsense' said Petra her hands on her hips by this time.  You know your mum, and your dad both worship you.  Mine wouldn't let me die my hair purple for starters.  Anyway, back to this exercising you are keen on.  Why suddenly do you want to lose more weight, you look great?"

"Well Robbie Nelson is going to be there this weekend and I am sure he likes me. a little.  If I could get a bit more off my waist I could get that dress in Pauldens' window, you know, the one with the big gold belt and the swishy skirt."

"Oh I knew there would be a boy somewhere in the picture.  You can exercise all you want.  You're never going to burn that crazy off.  Why can't you just enjoy your time with me and the girls, why does there always have to be a boy on the scene somewhere?  We've plenty of time for that, for goodness sake we are only just gone seventeen.  I'm going to finish my cake and be off, let me know later in the week what you are doing regarding Saturday's party."

And with that Petra took her cup and plate into the kitchen, said thanks to Mrs Smith and left via the back door."

WOYWW 844

Nothing special hals been happening this week but next week promises to be a bit brighter as it is Leigh Show on Sunday and we are meeting friends, Ann and John, who are coming down from Ulverston.  Guess what?  We are heading up to their neck of the woods afterwards, not quite as high as Ulverston but just below, as we are going to a cheese and wine party in the afternoon with some other friends.

I am also looking forwards to the show as it is run by Graham who I used to work for, well demonstrate for his wife's company at shows, and one of his sons will be there who I have known since he was a youngster - he is now dad to two young boys.  Two other friends Izzy and Pete will be there, they help with the shows and I've always had a soft spot for Izzy.

Then there is Jo.  Jo Rice will be dem'ing Lavinia stamps for Stampers Grove so it will be nice to see Jo as I haven't seen her in a while.  She will be with her friend Lisa who also helps out on thE is so is great at helping find a particular stamp you want.

Well, you came to see my desk so here it is

It looks staged but it isn't. I had my bits laid out trying to decide what went where in my challenge book I am doing with Ann, and what needed doing yet to make a pair up.  Not sure what you have seen in the past.

Last week my Acorn House, started with Jo, was on my desk and now it is layered up ready to go on a card.  My acorns are a bit more brown than Jo's were so next time I will remember and do them a bit more yellowy.  Here it is  with a brown mount on.  I really do like it and wish you could see the sparkle.

Now to visit Sarah and everyone else.

The ankle is pretty much the same.  Th surgery have been going all out to get me to take these really strong antibiotics as recommended by the microbiologist they consulted.  I was not happy, however talking to one of the partner doctors he said that although it was a risk there is nothing else will help with the recovery of the ankle and he recommended I take them.  So I have and fingers crossed seem to be ok except a bit of an upset tummy and a rash on my arms and mouth.  Just two left to take today and it's the end of the antibiotics and just left to the District Nurses who I see for treatment every four days.

Jeudi Journal - Invite

The quote from Wendy this week is "Thanks for the invite but I would rather sew my head to the carpet".  Sounds a bit painful to me.  Now to put the quote together with some botanicals for Halle's theme at Art Journal Journey.  It's the end of the month and AJJ will be having a new theme on Friday so, as I already had another page ready with some big florals on it I thought I had better get it used.  Thanks to Halle for a great theme, for once Wendy and I were able to fit our quotes into the theme easily.  Just wish I had been well enough to do more entries.

I had used the other side of the journal with this painting on it and coloured the figures min but to me they got lost a bit in the background so this time I left them black and white.  The story?

"It was the end of the day at Halle Academy and Roger was hanging around in the school garden hoping to see Monica who was in the class above him as he had such a great big crush on her and his friend, Johnny, was having a party on Friday night.  Just imagine if he could walk in with Monica.  All the other guys would be jealous because she was so beautiful.  It didn't matter to him that she was a year older, and a good bit taller, than he was, he had loved her forever.

Just then who should walk around the corner, and on her own, but Monica.  The birds all started singing and the butterflies flitting about (not really, just in his imagination).

"Hi Monica", he called

"Hi Roger" she answered, "what are you doing standing there?"

"Err, I was hoping to see you, I know you walk this way on your way home.  I wanted to ask you something important."

"OK" she said, shrugging her shoulders, she really wanted to be on her way, her brother would be in and he had a gorgeous friend that she had a bit of a crush on.  "What is it?"

"Erm, my friend is having a party on Friday, there will be lots of people from school there and I think there will be food and maybe the odd bottle of wine, I know I am going to take one if I can sneak one out.  I was wondering if you would like to go to the party with me."

Monica looked down on him, he was a good year younger than she was, and he didn't even come up to her shoulders.  No, she certainly did not want to be seen with a squirt like Roger.  The sun was beating down on them and she was in this rush to get home.  What should she say?  Let him down lightly or put him off forever?  Oh to heck with it she thought.  He needed putting down thinking he could have a date with her.  

"Thanks for the invite but I would rather sew my head to the carpet" she announced as she flounced off.

Poor Roger stood there, so disappointed.  Well, if that was the way that she felt he wouldn't be asking her to the Prom come the end of summer.  In fact he wouldn't be asking her to go anywhere with him in the future.  She was nothing but a jumped up snob."

WOYWW 843

 Yet another flying week, I swear days have wings on them these days, at this rate it will be 'C' time before I know it.  Perhaps it is not going as fast at Sarahs Craft Shed, maybe I should take a peek.

I never seem to have done as much as I expected to do.  This past week saw me trying to catch up on two online workshops I had signed up for but neither are fully finished.  One I didn't have a fairy facing left, that was large enough for the card, apart from one I had used previously.  Now if I had been making a card I would have been fine using her but as it was for my journal I already had one very similar on another page so it wouldn't do.  In the end I just made a card.  But I still have one to make.  Again I did not have the correct stuff but I am going to manage with what I have, long gone are my days of buying just because.

I've not had a good week, a lot on my mind regarding this ankle injury and visits to the District Nurse every four days with doctor trips in between has taken its toll on my week.  Enough about that.

Today I decided to do a quick card that my friend  Jo Rice had just put up on her You Tube and so I set to using one of the new stamps from Lavinia which I forgot to photograph for you all.  This is Acorn House and I just love it with the stones in front of the doorway.

At the moment it is just a topper and it needs mounting on a card so you might be seeing it again another week.

On my desk from left to right are my moon masks, some post it notes in the flowery pack, my stamps below with the acorn sets to the right and the green thing on the far right is my waste bin made by Jo Pritchard years ago, most of you will, remember Jo and her quilting/sewing etc.  She was a good friend and I have missed her cheerful disposition.  I never had 'down' days when Jo was around.  The blue thing is my pencil case full of Inktense pencils on top of some waste paper/card, then the acorn topper and finally over on the right my eraser, baby wipe, Wink of Stella and a piece of kitchen roll.

Not having unpacked my bag from when I was last at the caravan until this afternoon here is my counter top full of stuff.

I won't go through everything that is on here, it's pretty boring but the brown bag at the end is from Amazon, a bit of a surprise gift for my dh who has a birthday coming up.  He doesn't want/need anything but his Calvados is a bit down so he has asked for a bottle of that and I read that with grapefruit syrup it makes a lovely cocktail.  Now he isn't a cocktail type of man and doesn't like his Calvados messed about with but I am hoping that a bottle of grapefruit syrup might change his mind.  He's got one anyway!  Well I can have the odd cocktail with it can't I?  Or was it rhubarb?

Jeudi Journal - Stupidity

"I may not understand your level of stupidity, but I do admire your total commitment to it"  is the quote Wendy has given me to work with this week.and I have  to marry this with Halle's theme at Art Journal Journey - Botanicals.  So you see two figures and two flowers on my journal page but what is it all about?  As usual there is a story to unfold which will explain it all to you.

"Betty Blue wanted to buy something special for her mother for "Mother's Day" and so she went down to Hyacinth's Bouquet (the name was chosen based on a British TV Comedy) a well known and very expensive Flower Shop; well known for it's exotic blooms which you didn't see in other shops in ths locality, or even in the bigger towns and city around.

Imagine her surprise when she saw her old school friend, Priscilla Plum, sitting there on one of the flower chairs.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, "I didn't expect to see you here today."

"I work here" was the reply she got.  "I am apprentice now to Madam Hyacinth, how can I help you?"

"Err, I want a huge bloom for my mother, something that she will remember for the rest of her life as being a gift from me on Mother's Day,"

"How about a nice little posy made of Forget me Nots, or a vase especially made to show off the beautiful smelling Freesia?"

"No, I want something exotic, a huge bloom that she will remember for the rest if her life" insisted Betty.

"Perhaps some lilies, always popular with everyone."

"No, not large enough and certainly not exotic. besides which, I have an allergy to them as have lots of people.  I would assume you would know this."

"Roses then, you know what they say about giving roses to someone."

"More for a man to give to a woman in my book.  No!  Can I have a huge. bloom that says exotic please."

"I know, perfect for you to give to your mother, Agapanthus.  We got some in a few days ago.  They are huge."

"Yes, they are huge, I agree, and my mother has a garden full of them, not exotic.  Is Madam about?  Perhaps she can recommend something.  You see I may not understand your level of stupidity, but I do admire your total commitment to it.  Now can I see Madam please?"

Let's hope that Betty got the type of flower she wanted for her mother.  I am sure Madam Hyacinth could oblige.  Perhaps the South African Protea behind Betty in the shop.

WOYWW842

 Morning, time to join Sarah and her band of followers at Sarahs Craft Shed once again.  I hope it has been a bit cooler for all of you down south who have been struggling with the heat these past few weeks.  Climate change is certainly affecting the lives of many UK'ers.

Nothing much to report except health issues again.  I knew the wound on my ankle wasn't right, had a real go on the phone at getting a doctor to look at it but he/she refused a couple of weeks ago.  Saw my favourite doctor (who I haven't seen in about six years) last week and she straight away referred me to the District Nurses again.  This time I saw a decent one and she was aghast at the state of it - it is now an ulcer as I thought.  I wonder would it have got to this state had I been diagnosed/treated earlier?  Annie, you were a nurse, what do you think?

Now it's going to be continual visits to the DN's, until it heals.

Nothing else to report so here's my desk

A corner of my craft room, almost half of it to be honest.  Tiny eh? You can see I am working on the grey table but I have hidden my card as it is only going on the mail today. Actually it is one of two identical ones for a swap I am in . 

Ob my table are some stamps, a Twilight and Nocturne ink pad, my baby wipes in the big white tub, and a red and a white pen.  Some stamps down the bottom end.

My counter has all kinds of things on it including my Pan Pastels, stencil brushes, colouring pens and pencils, ink pads, foam blenders, lap top, more ink pads, poly stamps and papers.  Underneath you can see my paper storage rack.  Back up on top there are the usual ink pads etc that never move and in the window you can see on the left my collection of bears from Shaz in Oz along with a flag.

That's about it, I am busy and must get on. See you at Sarah's?

Jeudi Journal - Exception

 The quote for this week is "I never forget a face, but for you I'll make an exception" - the quote must appear on my page and in my story and there have to be some botanicals on my page to comply with Halle's theme at Art Journal Journey.  The two elements make up the rules for my journal page with Wendy which we have been doing for simply ages.

"Jacinta had taken herself off to the local Botanical Gardens in the City.  It had proved be too hot a day for wandering around and she had decided to give most of the hot houses a miss which was a shame because they had the most spectacular specimens in them.  She just about managed to go in the Temperate House mainly because the Lotus flowers were in there and were quite a sight to see.

It was whilst in there that a young woman had turned rather quickly and stood hard on Jacinta's left foot.

"Ouch" shouted Jacinta, "that hurt."

"Pardon" said the young woman who was much taller than Jacinta, "are you speaking to me?"

"Yes I am, you stood on my foot and it darned well hurt." said Jacinta.

"I don't think so" came the reply.

"You jolly well did.  If you look you have left a mark on my shoe and I think my heel is bleeding  as a result."

"Nonsense, I was nowhere near you" said the woman in the white dress.  

Jacinta was, by this time, feeling a tad annoyed, there was nobody else about and she hadn't managed to stand on the back of her own shoe.  If this woman wasn't twice her size she would have a right go at her.

"You need to watch where you are going and not walk into people in the future, and just remember I never forget a face, but for you I'll make an exception and make sure we are never in the same room together again." and with that Jacinta turned and wincing a little, as her heel really was smarting, she hobbled out of the Temperate House and went and found a bench to sit on to examine her heel.

Luckily the woman didn't follow but she really had spoiled what could have been a lovely day.  "Think I will go and get a cuppa and a cake to cheer myself up" she thought as she stood up, a bit of sugar was good for shock wasn't it."

I took great care to make sure my words were straight but the scan was skewy as you can see if you look down the left side where the ring binding is.  Just not time to do it again as I need to be at the doctors in 15 minutes.  Sorry.

WOYWW 841

 Another week has passed and what a glorious week it was for us up north.  We got some of the sunshine you all seem to have been enjoying although the last two days of our week on the edge of the Lakes was a bit too hot for us and so most of our time was spent in the shade.

However it was lovely to spend time meeting up with friends, having something to eat one lunchtime at a favourite garden centre and just a glass or two of rosé with nibbles one evening.

On our last evening we went down to a favourite spot of ours just sitting in the evening sun and watching the trains go by behind us.  Apart from the trains it must be a nice place to live and to wander down to the beach or walk up the lane for a bit of exercise - I guess you probably get used to the noise of the trains and hardly hear them after a short time living there.  (It is where the big house is that was featured in The Bay a couple of series ago.)  It is noted for catching the sunsets over The Bay

Monday night, at home, we had some rain, much needed by the plants and trees - and the reservoirs.  On our way home from Preston we pass two reservoirs and the first one was unbelievably dry.  It looked like the seaside with a sandy beach and I noticed the island in the middle of it, which is usually covered in gulls, was quite empty.  Wonder why and where they have gone?

Midweek I had a chiropractor appointment so we had to go into Preston.  I was so fed up with my hair (I am growing it so I can tie it up when I want to) so I went to a salon just up the road and managed to get a walk in.  Cost a bit more than I intended but I was so happy with the way she cut it whilst retaining the basic style and she just cut it as she felt it best suited me.  She certainly earned her title of "one of our top stylists" and all week I just shook my head after giving it a good brushing and it fell into place.  Sunday it needed shampooing so it was a test as to how I went on styling it myself.  Fine!  Happy Bunny!

Yesterday it rained all day.  The gardens were very grateful.  And it was that straight down rain that really wets everything.  There are some perks to living up north.

Anyway, here is my desk for this week.

This is my workspace and as you can see its fairy time.

You may remember that I was making a little book in a challenge with my friend Ann.  I decided to use fairies on the other side of the book and I chose these tall fairies to try out.  Not too convinced that this will work so I have left them all to one side.

As you can see this is completely different - paper to wool

Whilst I decide what to do with the fairy workspace I am doing a bit of needle-felting.  I haven't done enough of this to say I am paying a monthly subscription so today we have the basic shapes for the Larch Bolete.  On my table you can see, from the left, my bag gifted by a friend which is full of wool in different colours,.  You can see some samples (again gifted by a friend) bagged up and marked with the colours.  Below is my black sponge that I work on and to the right my box which my kit came in for the Fly Agaric (remember it?) which now holds odd bits of felt and my various needles.

Talking of Fly Agarics, I did three altogether, varying in size - well, I cannot find them!  Where did I put them?  I have searched all over.  I can find the picture but not the sculptures, and I loved them.  Tomorrow I am going to have to have a good old search everywhere!!!

In the meantime I will go over to Sarah's Craft Shed as usual and meet up with everyone.

Jeudi Journal - Repeating

"There's no need to repeat yourself, I ignored you the first time." is the first quote of a new set Wendy has sent for the next few weeks.  Unfortunately I am away from home and I have not got any of my Dylusion stuff with me so I am doing what I can to make a page for this week.

Luckily I found three Dylusion figures, one was headless and the other two minus legs.  I decided I could get away with the legless pair if I put them at the very bottom of the page.  Today we went to Sizergh Castle and I tried my scooter out again along the pathway which goes up to a farm.  I have never seen so many butterflies in one space for a long time.  The field had been mown but they had left a large border and sown wild flowers in.  It is a picture of pink and white but I did not know the species.  It certainly attracts the butterflies.   

Sorry you can hardly see them

Anyway here is my story for this week - again apologies for it.

"Miranda was known in the village for being a busybody.  She always knew what was going on, even behind closed doors, or so the villagers thought.

It was late Friday and poor Pip was just walking down the village green by the floral display when Mirand seemed to appear from nowhere.

"Have you heard about the young couple at number 6" she asked.

"No" said Pip.

"Well apparently they have been trying for a baby for the past few months and nothing has happened so her father has given them some money to try with VHS."

"Oh VHS?" said Pip with a smile on her face, "I think you mean IVF, but is it really any of our business and should we be talking about it?"

"Do you remember me telling you about old Mrs Dyson, well ...?"

At this point Pip wanted to get home and start tea before her husband came in from work.  She turned and started to walk in the direction of her house.

"I said" shouted Miranda, "Do you remember me telling you about old Mrs"

At this point Pip turned around and said "There's no need to repeat yourself, I ignored you the first time.  And that was two days ago.  You really are a bit of a busybody and you should keep your tittle tattling to yourself."  She turned again and marched off at a quick pace, there, she had finally told Miranda what the whole village felt.  But should she have been the one to say it?  To late!  It was done."

So that is my story, sorry it had to be done in a rush and without the proper equipment.  Must go as friends are due shortly and I need to change.  Do go over to Art Journal Journey and see what Halle has done for inspiration for her theme Botanicals.  Perhaps join in.  You know you want to.

WOYWW 840

 Lovely weather again up north, not the heat of down south but lovely sunshine and a fair bit of breeze.  Monday we went to Morecambe and fancied a ride along the prom to the Lifeboat Station with me on my new scooter and hubby walking alongside.  About half way along he was ready to turn back as the wind was so strong so I did a couple of yards more and tuned back.  It really was a bit on the wufty side.  Then I noticed people walking towards us were quite well wrapped up with jackets buttoned or zipped up to the neck and a cap of some kind on.  Not a day for the sands or for going out onto the stone jetty.

So we made our way inland, did a bit of shopping and went home.

Tuesday saw us meeting up with friends and having a spot of lunch before heading back to ours for tea and cake.  We had made an 8 oz all-in sponge at weekend and I put them into four small cake tins and iced and butter creamed each one differently (well three of them, the fourth went in the freezer).  One was lemon, one coffee and the other just jam and buttercream.  Please do help yourself to a small slice of each.  They went down well with John but Ann is gf and so I had to buy her a small carrot cake.  I only cut small pieces so John and Chas could sample them all.

I always leave the base paper on

This is my desk - Ann and I have a challenge running between the pair of us and here is my desk followed by my two pages in the album started with Jo Rice a while ago.

Now to head over to  Sarah's Craft Shed where you can link in with all the other members  to see what they are doing.  Over we go, quickly come with me.

Jeudi Journal - Diet

 "Nina and her friend from school, Diane, were meeting for the first time in years, well, about three to be exact.  They had arranged to meet outside the gardens in town and they were going to go for a coffee after Nina had had her hair done.  It was one of those heavy oppressive days where a thunderstorm is threatening so Diane was hoping that she did not have to wait for long.

Along came Nina, right on time with one of her usual fancy hairstyles.  You never knew what she was going to do with her hair, especially in their younger days when she had worked part time shampooing for a local saloon and things hadn't changed much as they got into their thirties.

"Hi" said Nina as she hurried um to her friend, "I haven't kept you waiting have I?"

"No" replied Diane, "I had only just got here myself.  I was hoping you wouldn't be long as I am ready for a spot of lunch."

"Oh" said Nina, "I thought we were just having a coffee."

"Yes, we were," replied Diane, "but you see I am absolutely starving.  I'm on two diets - one doesn't give me enough to eat so, if it is ok with you, could we have lunch please?"

"Certainly" replied Nina with a smile on her face looking at her old friend.  Diane had certainly put on weight since she last saw her, in fact, at first she had wondered if her friend was pregnant.  She hoped it was the coat that Diane was wearing that made her look like that."

I made the thundery background with some Pan Pastels and then used some Lavinia shops to create the scene behind the two girls.  To comply with the theme at Art Journal Journey which the talented Halle has set for us which is Botanicals.  I hope my trees in the background and the flowers between the two girls will qualify for this theme.

WOYWW 839

 Gosh it has been terribly hot for all of you down south, not so up north where, I am glad to say, most days the temperature was cooler than what you had.  Usually I feel that we have been dealt with a rough deal weather wise but this time - no.  I was so glad it was cooler here, apart from a few days, but even then it wasn't the same heat.  How people coped at Wimbledon I don't know.

They say we have to get used to these temperatures as it's going to get hotter and hotter as time goes on.  That's good news for hoteliers, guest houses etc as people might choose here rather than abroad of the weather is hot.

I stayed in as much as I could, my legs were swollen with the heat so they stayed as high as possible most of the time.  Did see a nurse at the doctors, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner to be exact, but when she saw the state of the (leaking and really swollen) legs she said it was beyond her to deal with it and so needed to see a doctor.  She didn't want me seeing a junior doctor (they would have to seek advice of a fully qualified doctor just as she would) so she made me an appointment  for the 17th July.  The first time I could see someone.  That was three weeks away, still two now.  We have seven full time doctors. all partners, in the practice.  What is happening to our nhs?

So the old brain has not been working very well either and legs needed to be up as much as possible so my desk is a reflection of it all

I need to do a card for a swap.  Did one but i should have just made it two of the same instead of thinking I'd do a different one for the other person.  Now I am stuck in the thought process with all these stamps out and nowhere to go.  HELP!!!

Oh, in the top right is a gift i wrapped for my friend's grandeee.  She is so adorable and on the way from the surgery the other day I called in Morrisons.  Saw this little sunsuit, fell in love with it, and bought it for her.  Her mummy liked the birthday card I made for her so I made a tag for this parcel.

Hopefully by next week I will have sorted a card out, in the meantime I will just pop over to Sarah's and see what everyone is up to.